| Shortcut to Happiness | |
|---|---|
Movie poster for Shortcut to Happiness |
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| Directed by | Alec Baldwin (credited as "Harry Kirkpatrick") |
| Produced by | Randall Emmett George Furla Bob Yari David Glasser |
| Written by | Pete Dexter Bill Condon Nancy Cassaro (screenplay) Stephen Vincent Benet (story) Archibald Macleish (play) |
| Starring | Anthony Hopkins Jennifer Love Hewitt Alec Baldwin Dan Aykroyd Kim Cattrall Amy Poehler |
| Music by | Ramin Djawadi Christopher Young |
| Cinematography | Adam Holender |
| Distributed by | Yari Film Group |
| Release date(s) | July 13, 2007 |
| Running time | 105 min. |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35,000,000 |
Shortcut to Happiness is a 2004 film adaptation of the Stephen Vincent Benet classic short story The Devil and Daniel Webster. It stars Anthony Hopkins as Daniel Webster, Alec Baldwin as Jabez Stone, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as The Devil. Baldwin also directed the film.
Although filmed in 2001, it was plagued with financial difficulties and sat unreleased for several years. In 2007 the Yari Film Group announced a deal to release the film to theaters under a new title, Shortcut to Happiness.
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Jabez Stone (Alec Baldwin) is a desperate, down on his luck writer who reaches rock bottom when his close friend, Julius Jensen (Dan Aykroyd), finds success. Throughout in his attempts to get his work published, he meets a beautiful stranger (Jennifer Love Hewitt) who offers him a chance at fame and fortune in exchange for his soul. Stone, having lost faith in himself, agrees to the offer.
After accepting the deal Jabez is quickly lavished with all he had ever dreamed of. A book deal, money, women, notoriety, Stone now had it all. However, despite the success, he is losing the friendship, respect and trust of those around him. Coming to the realization that he didn't quite get everything he bargained for, Stone begs the Devil to release him from their deal. When the Devil scoffs he turns to famed orator Daniel Webster (Anthony Hopkins). The two conclude that they should take the battle to court with Webster defending Stone in an otherworldly trial against the Devil in the ultimate battle of wits in a fight over the fate of Stone's soul.
Shot in early 2001 in New York City, the film was plagued with financial difficulties. During post-production Baldwin had said the movie was taken from him.[1] Due to this and other creative differences, Baldwin had his name removed from the directing credit; the name was ultimately replaced with the pseudonym "Harry Kirkpatrick".[2] Bob Yari bought the film from a bankruptcy court for an undisclosed amount, but was said to be several million dollars. Once the film cleared to be sold for distribution, a rough cut was screened at film festivals in 2003 and 2004, though much of the film's post-production work was never finished. The film needed further financing to complete the editing and special effects, as well as to replace temporary music.
In July 2006, it was announced that Yari's company would work on finishing the film and that it would be released sometime in 2007.[3] In 2007 the Yari Film Group announced the acquisition of the film and distribution plans.[4] The company also announced the title of the film would be changed from The Devil and Daniel Webster to Shortcut to Happiness.
Shortcut to Happiness is now available to watch online as part of Netflix's Watch Instantly feature. It has also been aired on Starz.
This film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for language and sexual content.
Shortcut to Happiness has received mostly negative reviews.[5]